On Friday preliminary reports showed that consumer sentiment in the US had risen in February and spurred optimism for future employment. Another report was released from the manufacturing sector, showing that the year started off a little weak with drops in vehicle output but is looking to recover with increased factory activity in New York state. G20 members met today in Moscow to discuss the current currency war in Japan but did not support the proposals of G7 powers earlier in the week about targeting exchange rates. Afterward the yen dropped for the first time this week. In corporate news, an email sent by an executive of Wal-Mart (WMT) was released describing sales in February as a "total disaster." Subsequently shares plummeted 3% after this was leaked.

The major indices ended mixed for the day but the S&P 500 closed with its seventh weekly gain.